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Andrew Dorough, DC, DACCP & Joel Alcantara, DC PhD
Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, Chiropractic ~ July 1, 2026 ~ Volume 2026 ~ Pages 25-34
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Abstract
Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics of infants 0–12 months of age presenting for chiropractic care in a single-practitioner practice, with particular attention to presenting complaints, pregnancy and birth history, labor and delivery factors, and examination findings associated with birth stress, feeding dysfunction, and cervico-cranio-mandibular subluxation patterns.
Methodology: A 1-year retrospective file review was performed of patient files of infants 0-12 months of age presenting for care at a single chiropractor practice. Patient socio-demographic information (i.e., age, gender) and clinical information (i.e., presenting complaints, maternal pregnancy and labor history, examination findings) were obtained from a retrospective file review. Statistical analysis utilized descriptive statistics and chi-square test of independence. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Life University (Marietta, GA, USA).
Results: A total of 145 infant patient files met the inclusion criteria. The infants had a mean age of 2.21 months (SD=2.34) and included 75 males and 70 females. Breastfeeding difficulty was the most common presenting complaint, reported in 113 infants (77.93%), followed by torticollis in 82 infants (56.55%), posterior tongue-tie diagnosis in 79 infants (54.48%), gassiness in 53 infants (36.55%), plagiocephaly in 40 infants (27.59%), and infantile colic in 38 infants (26.21%). Maternal and birth histories commonly included prolonged labor, extended pushing, recumbent delivery position, Pitocin use, epidural anesthesia, malpresentation, and malposition. Examination findings frequently included cervical muscle hypertonicity, cervical joint edema, head tilt and/or rotation, facial wincing with palpation, digastric muscle restriction/hyoid elevation, TMJ dysfunction, and cranial asymmetry. Taken together, the findings demonstrated a pattern of presenting complaints, birth stress indicators, and physical examination findings involving the cervico-cranio-mandibular complex.
Conclusion: We performed a retrospective file review of infants presenting for care in a single practitioner chiropractic practice. Our findings revealed infants commonly presented with chief complaints (i.e., breastfeeding difficulties, plagiocephaly, torticollis) associated with birth stress, strain or trauma. Chiropractors should be vigilant in their examination and care approaches to address subluxations to the cervico-cranio-mandibular complex. We support continued efforts to characterize infants and children presenting for chiropractic care.
Keywords: pediatrics, pregnancy, infants, chiropractic, subluxation, birth trauma, retrospective file review
